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Monday, October 31, 2011

ANCYL slams reports over Malema’s possible arrest

By Khanyisa Tabata31 October 2011

The ANC Youth League says it has noted various what it calls “sensational rumours” that Julius Malema is to be arrested. But it says no law enforcement agencies have contacted him.

The League says in a statement if the Hawks do investigate Malema the League will fully cooperate, because he is innocent.

But it says it won’t respond to faceless cowards who secretly speak to newspapers.

ANC Youth League spokesperson says the spreading of rumours and constant attempts of character assasination actually inspire and agitate the leadership and membership of the ANC YL to fight with more determination.

Over 17 000 households refused to be counted

Statistics South Africa Statistician General Pali Lehohla today briefed the media about the Stats SA Mop-up phase as this year’s Census 2011 comes to an end today.

Lehohla said operations on the ground indicate that there still houses that have not been counted. He said 98.8%enumaration areas were visited by field staff over the past 21 days.

“The focus for the statistical agency now moves to the payment of fieldworkers, collection of all questionnaires with the payment for the field workers starting on the 10th of November 2011.

“Each field worker will be paid R5000 while supervisors will be paid R7500 each,” said Lohohla.

Lehohla said that they will be embarking on a mop-up phase, the statistical agency going to escalate their enforcement against those who refuse to be counted.

“To date there are 17 000 refusals that had been registered during the population and housing around the country,” said Lehohla.

“An independent team has been established to go to the field to conduct Post Enumeration Survey, a quality check exercise to determine among other things the census coverage and measure the undercount.

“What we are certain about is that the census 2011 will be able to give the government population trends, demographic trends, the level intern migration and income levels of our country,” said Lehohla.

The results for this year’s census are expected to be announced in November 2012.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Mkhwanazi promoted to lieutenant-general

President Jacob Zuma has promoted acting National Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to the rank of lieutenant-general.

This happened two days after the 38-year-old Mkhawanazi was appointed as stand-in for the suspended Bheki Cele.

Cele was suspended on Monday pending an investigation in his involment in the police building lease deals.

Experts say the promotion came after outcry over the fact that about 26 more senior lieutenant-generals, who were overlooked for the acting position, would have had to report to the more junior-ranked Mkhwanazi.

50 people left homeless in Khayelitsha

A fire in Khayelitsha left 50 people displaced and destroyed 12 shacks.

Fire services Theo Layne said most of the people were not at home during the fire, so no one was injured.

The 50 displaced were assisted with food, blankets, clothing and building material. Further social assistance will be provided by the social development department of the Western Cape provincial government and the SA Social Security.

The cause of the fire is still not known at this stage but the case has been handed over to the police

A plan to curb identity theft on the way

South African banks and Home Affairs are working on an online fingerprint verification project to curb identity theft.

This is aimed at protecting the identities of South Africans while assisting in the international effort against fraud and corruption.

Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi explained that the system will work in a way whereby if a person cannot make a transaction, then the bank will take a fingerprint and compare it with the Home Affairs data base.

Manyi added that if the fingerprints do not match then the police would be called.

Cosatu says it will not join ANC Youth League marches

By Lelethu Mquqo27 October 2011

The Congress of South African Trade Unions says it has decided not to participate in the ANC Youth League marches in Johannesburg and Pretoria as they would rather take part in an ongoing three-day Young Communist League summit.

The marches are due to take place today and on Friday.

Gauteng police say every effort will be made to minimise disruptions.

The League is calling for the nationalisation of mines and the redistribution of wealth.

They will march to the Chamber of Mines, as well as the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, before making their way to the Union Buildings.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini says they are happy that young people are taking the initiative.

Gordhan under pressure with mini-budget

All eyes are on Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan this afternoon. He remains under pressure to enable job growth when delivering his Medium-Term Budget Policy statement in Parliament.

The Democratic Alliance says as South Africa grapples with high unemployment levels, Gordhan cannot afford to let government finances slip.

The DA’s Dian George points out that President Jacob Zuma's promise of 2011 being the “year of the job” is not materialising. Instead, unemployment is reaching crisis levels with nearly seven-million people unemployed.

The Congress of the People says Gordhan needs to use today’s medium-term budget policy statement to show he has a firm grip on government's finances.

Cope spokesperson Nic Koornhof says Gordhan needs to prove that the National Treasury's grip had not slipped in the transition from former president Thabo Mbeki to President Jacob Zuma.

Boystown residents urged not to stall housing project

Concerns have been raised by the Western Cape Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela about the disagreements between Nyanga residents and their councillor.

Madikizela said the disagreements should not stall development.

Residents from Boystown have claimed that their councillor is autocratic and refuses to take suggestions from them about the development.

MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela added by saying “I had several meetings with community leaders. Time to talk some sense into them because I don’t understand what the issues are resulting in them not seeing eye to eye”

Bheki Cele respects Zuma’s decision

Cele is nevertheless extremely confident that he will emerge completely set free from the inquiry into his involvement in the procurement of two leases for new police headquarters in Pretoria and Durban.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela had found that Cele's involvement in the leases, valued at one-point-six-billion-Rands, was unlawful and amounted to maladministration.

Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle

President Jacob Zuma has suspended Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele with immediate effect.

He has appointed a commission of enquiry into the Police Headquarters deal saga.

Zuma appointed Nhlanhla Mkwanazi as the acting police commissioner.

Zuma made the announcement while making a cabinet reshuffle which saw the dismissal of Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde and Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka.

Mahlangu-Nkabinde is replaced by deputy minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Thulas Nxesi.

The Public works department will no longer have a deputy minister.

Minister Richard Baloyi, the Minister of Public Service and Administration, replaces Shiceka as the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Communications minister Roy Padayachee was appointed minister of public service and administration.

The president also announced a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in the “arms deal”.

Honourable Mr Justice Willie Seriti, Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Honourable Mr Justice Willem van der Merwe, Deputy Judge President of the North Gauteng High Court and Honourable Mr Justice Francis Legodi, Judge of the North Gauteng High Court were appointed.

Mr Justice Seriti will chair the Commission, which is expected to complete its work within two years.

Other changes in the cabinet are as follows:

1. Ms Dina Pule, currently the Deputy Minister for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, has been appointed Minister of Communications.

2. Mr Obed Bapela, the Deputy Minister of Communications, has been appointed Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.

3. Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, the Deputy Minister of Public Works, will be the Deputy Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disability.

4. Mr S. Lechesa Tsenoli, chairperson of the portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs, has been appointed as Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform.

5. ANC Member of Parliament, Ms Thembisa Stella Ndabeni, will become the Deputy Minister of Communications.

SAMWU calls for road projects to be scrapped and investigated

The South African Municipal Workers Union has welcomed Transport Minister Sbusiso Ndebele’s announcement that the toll road projects be halted for now.

SAMWU’s national spokesperson Tahir Sema says the working class was not going to cooperate with the project and pay-over exorbitant amounts of money, to use the countries roads

“Apart from just halting the toll road projects, Government must investigate as to who was responsible for steam-rolling these projects past all the relevant processes

“This toll road saga and how it was handled is an example of what a Government in any normal democracy should never do,” said Sema.

He adds that the people of this country must not be taken for granted, as the working class of this country they cannot afford exorbitant charges for services rendered and massive price increases for basic necessities much longer.

24 arrested for drunk driving

Twenty four drivers have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol with 1505 screening for being under suspicion of the offence.

Community Safety acting spokesperson Greg Wagner says the highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in Beaufort West area which was more than 3 times over the legal limit.

“The weekend saw three tragic fatalities on the provincial roads, on Saturday one person lost their life in a road incident on the R27 near Saldanha in a head on collision and yesterday saw 2 fatalities in two separate road incidents on the N1.

“One person died on the N1 near Worcester in a head on collision and another person died on the N1 near Paarl where the driver lost control and the vehicle overturned,” said Wagner.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

International Relations denies Bheki Cele diplomatic posting

By Lelethu Mquqo23 October 2011

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says that contrary to recent reports, there is no discussion underway regarding the possibility of National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele taking up a diplomatic posting in Canada.

Department spokesperson Clayson Monyela says all diplomats are put through a training programme before being sent abroad, adding that Cele has undergone no such training.

Questions have been raised about the top cop’s future, following his handling of a dodgy police headquarters lease deal.

ANC says Gaddafi’s death could have been avoided

The ANC says the gruesome killing of Muammar Gaddafi could have been avoided if the United Nations adopted African Union’s peaceful approach.

Party spokesperson Jackson Mthembu says the National Transitional Council should embrace all Libyans, irrespective of who they supported during the conflict.

Tom Wheeler of the SA Institute of International Affairs says the NTC government in Libya is not expected to struggle with the fact that they no longer have an enemy to fight, in the form of Muammar Gaddafi.

Fines or jail time for people who don’t take part in Census 2011

By Khanyisa Tabata21 October 2011

South Africans who refuse to be counted by Census workers could face heavy fines, or even jail time.

Statistics SA says an increasing number of people are not cooperating during this year’s Census, which has led to an application for court permission to enforce a ten-thousand-Rand fine, or six months imprisonment.

South Africa hopes for peace following Gaddafi’s demise

Government has reacted to the killing of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi by expressing the hope that the latest events would lead to a cessation of hostilities and the restoration of peace.

The Presidency has urged the National Transitional Council of Libya to begin in earnest the process of building national unity and reconciliation as well as the disarmament of all combatants and their reintegration into society.

Reports from Sirte say Gaddafi was captured cowering in a drainage pipe full of rubbish and filth.

A rebel fighter called his end ironic, seeing that Gaddafi had often referred to those who opposed him as rats. Libyan officials also confirmed that one of Gaddafi’s sons, Muatassim, has been killed.

He had been hiding with his father. His brother and presumptive heir Seif al-Islam was wounded when he was captured and is recovering in hospital.

Dagga worth R600 000 confiscated in Lwandle

By Khanyisa Tabata20 October 2011

A 21 year man has been arrested for being in possession of dagga worth R600 000 in Polile Park Squarter Camp, Lwandle.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Lance Goliath says police responded to a tip off received from the public about an alleged dealing in dagga and confiscated 14 eight kilogram blue containers full of dagga.

“A 21year old suspect was arrested and he will appear in the Strand Magistrates’ Court on charges of possession and dealing in dagga once he has been charged,” said Goliath.

Activists demand government action against child sex rings

By Lelethu Mquqo19 October 2011

The Family Policy Institute is demanding that Parliament urgently finalises and passes the Prevention and Combating in Trafficking in Persons Bill.

This follows the revelation by child protection group Molo Songololo that a mother who was told that her daughter was sexually involved with a police member in Nelspoort helped uncover a child sex ring in the small Karoo town.

Five girls aged between 12 and 15-years were involved.

Molo Songolo’s Una Wentzel says six men, including three police members, will appear in the Beaufort West Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

It is alleged that some of the girls had been kidnapped in the Free State.

Walter Sisulu University in financial strain

Lusanda Bill18 October 2011

Some of the staff at Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape have been told they will not be paid this month.

Almost two-thousand staff received a memo from human resources acting executive director Siyabulela Mnyaiza saying that the institution had to delay salary payments, due to their inability to raise capital.

Government announced earlier this year that WSU would be placed under financial administration.

Three arrested for posing as police officers

Three people have been arrested after they tried to rob a Wesbank store while pretending to be cops.

Police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk says the men aged between 31 and 55 were wearing police uniforms when they attempted to clean out a Somali-owned shop at the weekend.

“A fake search warrant was found in their possession, along with a toy gun.

“After interrogation it became evident that the foreigner and the two locals were impostors, and one of the locals was a serving member of SAPS but was dismissed from the Service in January 2011,” said Van Wyk.

Van Wyk added the three suspects are currently in police custody and will appear in the Bluedowns Magistrate Court once they have been charged on the said charges.

Botswana plane tragedy claims 10 lives

By Khanyisa Tabata18 October 2011

The Botswana government has announced that ten people, including seven European tourists, were killed when a light plane crashed in the Okavango Delta region.

The Cessna 208 came down shortly after take-off from an airfield in a nature reserve on Friday. A spokesperson for the Botswana Civil Aviation Authority says the dead include three Swedes, three French citizens and a British tourist.

Apparently two Botswana nationals and the British pilot were also killed.

Two French tourists and two people from Botswana survived the crash. The cause of the tragedy is still being investigated.

Man charged with Louise de Waal’s murder set to face more charges

Police are confident that more charges will be laid against the man arrested for the murder of 16-year-old schoolgirl Louise de Waal.

Police investigator Piet du Toit says the methods used in the Louise’s murder are very similar to those used by the so-called Sunday Rapist.

Du Toit has been hunting down the rapist since November, 2008.

The suspect was due to appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court this morning, but proceedings were delayed while the magistrate and police held private discussions over which evidence could be used in the case.

Two matric’s busted for trying to buy exam papers

Lusanda Bill16 October 2011

Two matric students have been arrested for allegedly trying to buy examination papers in Limpopo.

Police say they received a tip-off about the illegal transaction and set a trap, near Polokwane.They caught the girls trying to buy maths and physical science papers from an Education Department official for two-thousand-Rand each.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Wits cancel the ANC Youth League talk by Julius Malema

Wits University has forced the ANC Youth League to cancel a talk by Julius Malema on the campus this afternoon. Malema was to have given a lecture on “Economic Freedom” on campus at 5pm.

But the League says in a statement the Vice Chancellor, Loyiso Nongxa, forced the cancellation of the lecture because he felt the University would not be in a position to manage the number of people who were going to attend.

The League says this is despite its assurance that only Wits University students and workers would be allowed to attend.

Minister’s trip to Switzerland cost taxpayers 540-thousand-Rands

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela says Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka spent 540-thousand-Rands on a trip to Switzerland in 2008, not 367-thousand as had previously been reported.

She says the expenditure for the controversial trip constitutes a financial loss for government, as it was of no benefit or any value to the state. Madonsela has recommended that President Jacob Zuma take serious action against the Minister.

Meanwhile, there is mixed reaction to the Public Protector’s report. The DA and Cosatu say Shiceka should immediately be fired and also be made to pay back the money he has spent.

The ANC says however that President Zuma must be given time to come to an appropriate decision.

President Jacob Zuma called to take action against Minister Sicelo Shiceka

By Khanyisa Tabata14 October 2011

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has called for President Jacob Zuma to take serious action against Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka. Madonsela released her final report into the Minister’s controversial 2008 trip to Switzerland earlier today.

She says Shiceka deliberately misled the Presidency about a trip, claiming it formed part of preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, but really using it to visit his girlfriend in Zurich.

Madonsela says Shiceka’s actions were unlawful and constituted maladministration, dishonesty in respect of public money and improper conduct. He has been on sick leave since February.

The Democratic Alliance has responded to the report, saying Zuma has no choice but to fire Shiceka immediately, as well as make him pay back the costs of his trip.

The party’s James Lorimer says the ball is now firmly in the President’s court.

Last day at school for 2011 Grade 12’s

By Khanyisa Tabata14 October 2011

Today thousands of Grade 12 learners experience the last day of their school career before they begin writing their National Senior Certificate examinations.

Western Cape Minister of Education Donald Grant spokesperson Bronagh Casey says we are confident in the Class of 2011 and their abilities they have worked hard and have remained focused throughout the school year.

“We are especially pleased with the enthusiasm shown in our Grade 12 programmes, this year we saw a marked increase in attendance at our tutoring and telematics programmes and holiday schools.“On Monday, the first examination will take place with around 9 000 learners will sit down to complete the Computer Applications Technology Practical examination, said Casey.

She adds that the first of the written examinations will take place on the 24th of October, with English First Additional Language, Home Language and Second Language.

“The last of the scheduled exams will be written on the 1st of December with Religious Studies Paper 2 and Design,” said Casey.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

230 000 items of porn confiscated

By Khanyisa Tabata13 October 2011

The Film and Publication Board has confiscated 230-thousand items of illegal pornographic material, unclassified films and publications from both the streets and shops around the country in the past financial year.FPB opened 759 cases with police in the year under review exceeding its target of about 300 cases.

More than 900 non-compliant stores were raided across the country surpassing their target of 265 raids.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Evidence on how Eugene Terre’Blanche died

When AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche was found he was lying on a bloody bed in his farmhouse, with a panga lodged in his chest.

This is according to today’s evidence by a local policeman, Sergeant Jack Ramonyane.

He was testifying in the High Court sitting in Ventersdorp. Ramonyane says when he entered the house the two accused, 28-year-old farmworker Chris Mahlangu, and a minor, were in a police van outside the farmhouse.

He testified that he brought them there after they had admitted to him that they had killed Terre’Blanche.

“The ACDP shares the sentiments of many in being both grateful and proud of the Commission’s achievements to date.

“The candidates generally agreed by the ad hoc Committee have the full confidence of the committee to accomplish the enormous task before them in ensuring continuity and maintaining an established standard of excellence,” said Dudley.